^{1 Ref} My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, The grave is `ready' for me.

^{2 Ref} Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.

^{3 Ref} Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; Who is there that will strike hands with me?

^{4 Ref} For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: Therefore shalt thou not exalt `them'.

^{5 Ref} He that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

^{6 Ref} But he hath made me a byword of the people; And they spit in my face.

^{7 Ref} Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow.

^{8 Ref} Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

^{9 Ref} Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.

^{10 Ref} But as for you all, come on now again; And I shall not find a wise man among you.

^{11 Ref} My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.

^{12 Ref} They change the night into day: The light, `say they', is near unto the darkness.

^{13 Ref} If I look for Sheol as my house; If I have spread my couch in the darkness;

^{14 Ref} If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, `Thou art' my mother, and my sister;

^{15 Ref} Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

^{16 Ref} It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, When once there is rest in the dust.

^{1 Ref} My spirit is broken, my days are ended, the last resting-place is ready for me.

^{2 Ref} Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.

^{3 Ref} Be pleased, now, to be responsible for me to yourself; for there is no other who will put his hand in mine.

^{4 Ref} You have kept their hearts from wisdom: for this cause you will not give them honour.

^{5 Ref} As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.

^{6 Ref} He has made me a word of shame to the peoples; I have become a mark for their sport.

^{7 Ref} My eyes have become dark because of my pain, and all my body is wasted to a shade.

^{8 Ref} The upright are surprised at this, and he who has done no wrong is troubled because of the evil-doers.

^{9 Ref} Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength.

^{10 Ref} But come back, now, all of you, come; and I will not see a wise man among you.

^{11 Ref} My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the desires of my heart.

^{12 Ref} They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark.

^{13 Ref} If I am waiting for the underworld as my house, if I have made my bed in the dark;

^{14 Ref} If I say to the earth, You are my father; and to the worm, My mother and my sister;

^{15 Ref} Where then is my hope? and who will see my desire?

^{16 Ref} Will they go down with me into the underworld? Will we go down together into the dust?